Stroke prevention is a global policy priority of the World Stroke Organization and this year our Campaign Committee are exploring the potential of an annual World Stroke Prevention Week, which it is anticipated would take place in May each year.
The idea is to increase prevention focused campaign communication in the weeks leading up to the annual World Health Assembly that takes place each May and to leverage some of the existing activity and conversation around stroke and hypertension that take place during this month.
This year we will be testing out the idea of World Stroke Prevention Week, kicking off the week on World Hypertension Day (May 17th) to highlight high blood pressure as a major stroke risk factor and the importance of prevention and management.
We will be working in partnership with our formal partners the World Hypertension League (WHL) and informally with the International Society of Hypertension (ISH). Our proposed partnership activities will include:
Highlighting WSO members’ activities in support of World Hypertension Day and May Measurement Month (please e-mail campaign@world-stroke.org to share any local plans you have in place, or indicate if you would like us to connect you to the May Measurement Month team of the ISH. If you are planning social media activity please tag @WStrokeCampaign in any posts so we can highlight your work.)
Sharing WSO patient information resources, including the StrokeRiskometer, at WHL and ISH community-based blood pressure monitoring sessions. If you plan to run local events as part of World Hypertension Day/ May Measurement Month please consider sharing WSO information resources such as the Understanding Hypertension and Stroke leaflet, or as many of you will have done previously, using the StrokeRiskometer to help individuals to understand their stroke risk factors.
We will also be delivering a World Hypertension Day panel event on Thursday 20th May where we will share key advocacy messaging to support engagement in local primary and secondary prevention initiatives.